שְׁאִיָּה (she.iy.yah)
she.iy.yah
ruin
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sheziyah denotes a state of ruin or desolation. It appears only once in the Bible, in Isaiah 24:12, where it describes the aftermath of divine judgment on the earth. The word captures the physical and social collapse that follows when order is overturned.
Its rarity makes its single occurrence significant. In Isaiah’s vision, the city is left empty and the gate is battered to ruin. This usage emphasizes total devastation rather than simple damage. The term conveys a finality that leaves no room for easy recovery.
Translators typically render it as "ruin" or "desolation." The choice reflects the severity of the context. It is not a minor setback but a complete overthrow. This single instance highlights how language can convey the weight of judgment in prophetic literature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Isaiah 24:12 paints a stark picture of total collapse, using a rare Hebrew word for ruin that signals more than simple damage. It describes a city left empty and a gate battered beyond repair, reflecting the heavy weight of divine judgment on a world that has turned away from God. This imagery reminds us that sin carries serious consequences, leading to social and physical desolation when order is overturned.
Yet this prophecy also points to a deeper hope. The same God who allows ruin ultimately restores what was broken. For believers today, this word serves as a sobering reminder of our need for redemption. It invites us to look beyond the temporary chaos of this world and anchor our faith in the eternal stability found only in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ ruin1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/שְׁאִיָּ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 24:12
The city is left in desolation, and the gate is struck with destruction.
This verse uses the word to describe the finality of judgment, where the city is left empty and the gate is struck with destruction, emphasizing total devastation rather than minor damage.